Cissy\'scurlsswungroundwiththeothers。ButshewassurprisedtoseethatMr。Braggswasseatedinoneofthebenchesnearthedoor，andfromthefactofhisholdingahandkerchieftohismouth，andbeinggazedatbyhisneighbors，itwasevidentthatitwashewhohadcoughed。PerhapshehadcometoWestWoodlandstotalktoheraunt!Withthepreacherbeforeher，andherprobablesuitorbehindher，shefeltherselfagainblushing。
BrotherSeabrightcontinued。Yes，hewasWRONG，fortherebeforehim，inthedepthsoftheforest，weretwochildren。Theywerelookingatabushof\"pizonberries，\"——thedeadlynightshade，asitwasfitlycalled，——andonewaswarningtheotherofitsdangerousqualities。
\"Buthowdoyouknowit\'sthe\'pizonberry\'？\"askedtheother。
\"Becauseit\'slarger，andnicer，andbigger，andeasiertogetthantherealgoodones，\"returnedtheother。
Anditwasso。Thuswasthetruthrevealedfromthemouthsofbabesandsucklings；eventheywereconsciousoftemptationandsin!Butheretherewasanotherinterruptionfromthebackbenches，whichproved，however，tobeonlythesuppressedgiggleofaboy——evidentlytheyouthfulherooftheillustration，surprisedintonervoushilarity。
Thepreacherthenpassedtothe\"ConvictionofSin\"initsmorefamiliarphases。ManybrothersconfoundedthiswithDISCOVERYAND
PUBLICITY。Itwasnottheirownsin\"findingthemout，\"butothersdiscoveringit。Untilthathappened，theyfanciedthemselvessafe，stillingtheirconsciences，confoundingtheblindedeyeoftheworldwiththeall-seeingeyeoftheLord。Butweretheysafeeventhen？Didnotsoonerorlatertheseadeliverupitsdead，theearthwhatwasburiedinit，thewildwoodswhatitsdepthshadhidden？Wasnotthefoolishsecret，theguiltysecret，theforgottensin，suretobedisclosed？TheniftheycouldnotflyfromthetestimonyofHisworks，iftheycouldnotevadeeventheirfellow-man，whydidtheynotfirstturntoHim？Why，fromthepenitentchildathismother\'skneetothemurdereronthescaffold，didtheyonlyatTHELASTconfessuntoHim？
Hisvoiceandmannerhadsuddenlychanged。Fromtheroughnoteofaccusationandchallengeithadpassedintotheequallyrough，butbrokenandsympathetic，accentsofappeal。Whydidtheyhesitatelongertoconfesstheirsin——nottoman——butuntoHim？Whydidtheydelay？Now——thatevening!Thatverymoment!Thiswastheappointedtime!Heentreatedtheminthenameofreligiousfaith，inthenameofahumanbrotherlylove。Hisdeliverywasnownolongerdeliberate，buthurriedandpanting；hisspeechnownolongerchosen，butmadeupofreiterationsandrepetitions，ejaculations，andevenincoherentepithets。Hisgesturesandlongintonationswhichbegantotaketheplaceofeventhatinterruptedspeechaffectedthemmorethanhisreasoning!Shortsighsescapedthem；theyswayedtoandfrowiththerhythmofhisvoiceandmovements。Theyhadbeguntocomprehendthisexacerbationofemotion——thisparoxysmalrhapsody。Thiswasthedithyrambicexaltationtheyhadardentlywaitedfor。Theyrespondedquickly。
Firstwithgroans，equallyinarticulatemurmursofassent，shoutsof\"Glory，\"andtherecklessinvocationofsacrednames。Thenawaveofhysteriaseemedtomovethewholemass，andbrokeintotearsandsobsamongthewomen。InherownexcitedconsciousnessitseemedtoCissythatsomeactualstrugglebetweengoodandevil——
likeuntothecastingoutofdevils——wasshakingthelittlebuilding。ShecastahurriedglancebehindherandsawMr。Braggssittingerect，whiteandscornful。Sheknewthatshetoowasshrinkingfromthespeaker，——notfromanysenseofconviction，butbecausehewasirritatinganddisturbingherinnatesenseoffitnessandharmony，——andshewaspainedthatMr。Braggsshouldseehimthus。Meantimetheweird，invisiblestrugglecontinued，heightenedand，itseemedtoher，incitedbythepartisangroansandexultantactionsofthosearoundher，untilsuddenlyawilddespairingcryaroseabovetheconflict。Avaguefearseizedher——
thevoicewasfamiliar!SheturnedintimetoseethefigureofauntVashtiriseinherseatwithahystericaloutburst，andfallconvulsivelyforwarduponherknees!Shewouldhaverushedtoherside，butthefrenziedwomanwasinstantlycaughtbyDeaconShadwellandsurroundedbyagroupofherownsexandbecamehidden。AndwhenCissyrecoveredherselfshewasastonishedtofindBrotherSeabright——witheverytraceofhispastemotionvanishedfromhishard-setface——calmlytakinguphiscoherentdiscourseinhisordinaryleveltones。Thefuriousstruggleofthemomentbeforewasover；thechapelanditscongregationhadfallenbackintoanexhaustedandapatheticsilence!Thenthepreachergaveoutthehymn——thewordsweresingularlyjubilantamongthatusuallymournfulcollectioninthebookbeforeher——andCissybeganitwithatremulousvoice。Butitgainedstrength，clearness，andvolumeasshewenton，andshefeltthrilledthroughoutwithanewhumansympathyshehadneverknownbefore。Thepreacher\'sbasssupportedhernowforthefirsttimenotunmusically——andtheservicewasover。
Relieved，sheturnedquicklytojoinheraunt，butahandwaslaidgentlyuponhershoulder。ItwasBrotherSeabright，whohadjuststeppedfromtheplatform。Thecongregation，knowinghertobethenieceofthehystericwoman，passedoutwithoutdisturbingthem。
\"Youhave，indeed，improvedyourgift，SisterCecilia，\"hesaidgravely。\"Youmusthavepracticedmuch。”
\"Yes——thatis，no!——onlyalittle，\"stammeredCissy。
\"But，excuseme，Imustlookafterauntie，\"sheadded，drawingtimidlyaway。
\"Yourauntisbetter，andhasgoneonwithSisterShadwell。Sheisnotinneedofyourhelp，andreallywoulddobetterwithoutyoujustnow。Ishallseehermyselfpresently。”
\"ButYOUmadehersickalready，\"saidCissy，withasudden，half-
nervousaudacity。\"YouevenfrightenedME。”
\"Frightenedyou？\"repeatedSeabright，lookingatherquickly。
\"Yes，\"saidCissy，meetinghisgazewithbrown，truthfuleyes。
\"Yes，whenyou——whenyou——madethosefaces。Iliketohearyoutalk，but\"——shestopped。
BrotherSeabright\'sraresmileagainlightenedhisface。Butitseemedsadderthanwhenshehadfirstseenit。
\"ThenyouhavebeenpracticingagainattheMission？\"hesaidquietly；\"andyoustillpreferit？\"
\"Yes，\"saidCissy。ShewantedtoappearasloyaltotheMissioninBrotherSeabright\'spresenceasshewasfaithfultoWestWoodlandsinMr。Braggs\'s。Shehadnoideathatthiswasdangerouslyneartocoquetry。Soshesaidalittlearchly，\"Idon\'tseewhyYOUdon\'tliketheMission。You\'reamissionaryyourself。TheoldpadrescameheretospreadtheWord。Sodoyou。”
\"Butnotinthatway，\"hesaidcurtly。\"I\'veseenenoughofthemwhenIwasknockingroundtheworldaseafaringmanandasinner。
Iknewthem——receiversoftheill-gottengainsofadventurers，fools，andscoundrels。Iknewthem——enrichedbythespoilsofpersecutionandoppression；gatheringundertheirwallsoutlawsandfugitivesfromjustice，andflinginganindulgencehereandanabsolutionthere，astheywerepaidforit。Don\'ttalktomeofTHEM——Iknowthem。”
Theywerepassingoutofthechapeltogether，andhemadeanimpatientgestureasifdismissingthesubject。AccustomedthoughshewastothesweepingcriticismofherCatholicfriendsbyherWestWoodlandsassociates，shewasneverthelesshurtbyhisbrusqueness。Shedroppedalittlebehind，andtheyseparatedattheporch。Notwithstandingheranxietytoseeheraunt，shefeltshecouldnotnowgotoDeaconShadwell\'swithoutseemingtofollowhim——andafterhehadassuredherthatherhelpwasnotrequired!
Sheturnedasideandmadeherwayslowlytowardsherhome。
Thereshefoundthatheraunthadnotreturned，gatheringfromherunclethatshewasrecoveringfromafitof\"highstrikes\"
(hysterics)，andwouldbebetteralone。Whetherheunderratedhercomplaint，orhadaconsciousnessofhismasculinehelplessnessinsuchdisorders，heevidentlymadelightofit。AndwhenCissy，afterwards，alittleashamedthatshehadallowedhermomentarypiqueagainstBrotherSeabrighttostandinthewayofherduty，determinedtogotoheraunt，insteadofreturningtothechapelthatevening，hedidnotopposeit。ShelearnedalsothatMr。
Braggshadcalledinthemorning，but，findingthatherauntVashtiwasatchapel，hehadfollowedherthere，intendingtoreturnwithher。Buthehadnotbeenseensincetheservice，andhadevidentlyreturnedtotheMission。
ButwhenshereachedDeaconShadwell\'shouseshewasreceivedbyMrs。Shadwellonly。Heraunt，saidthatlady，wasphysicallybetter，butBrotherSeabrighthadleft\"partklerword\"thatshewastoseenobody。Itwasanextraordinarycaseof\"findin\'theLord，\"
thelikeofwhichhadneverbeenknownbeforeinWestWoodlands，andshe(Cissy)wouldyetbeproudofoneofher\"fammerlybeingspeshallyselectedforgrace。”Butthe\"workin\'so\'salvationwasnottobefinickedawayonworldlythingsoreventheaffectionsoftheflesh；\"andifCissyreallylovedheraunt，\"shewouldn\'tinterferewithherwhileshewas，sotospeak，stillonthemourners\'bench，wrastlin\'withtheSperretintheirbacksittin\'-
room。”ButshemightwaituntilBrotherSeabright\'sreturnfromeveningchapelafterservice。
Cissywaited。Nineo\'clockcame，butBrotherSeabrightdidnotreturn。Thenasmallbutinconsequentdignitytookpossessionofher，andsheslightlytossedherlongcurlsfromhershoulders。
Shewasnotgoingtowaitforanyman\'spermissiontoseeherownaunt。Ifauntiedidnotwanttoseeher，thatwasenough。Shecouldgohomealone。Shedidn\'twantanyonetogowithher。
Liftedandsustainedbytheseloftyconsiderations，withanerectheadandslightlyruffledmane，wellenwrappedinabecomingwhitemerino\"cloud，\"theyounggirlsteppedoutonherhomewardjourney。
Shehadcertainlyenoughtooccupyhermindand，perhaps，justifyherindependence。TohaveasuitorforherhandinthepersonofthesuperiorandwealthyMr。Braggs，——forthatwaswhathisvisitthatmorningtoWestWoodlandsmeant，——andtobepersonallycomplimentedonherimprovementbythefamousBrotherSeabright，allwithintwelvehours，wassomethingtobeproudof，evenalthoughitwasmitigatedbyheraunt\'sillness，hersuitor\'sabruptdeparture，andBrotherSeabright\'smomentarycoldnessandimpatience。Oddlyenough，thislastandapparentlytrivialcircumstanceoccupiedherthoughtsmorethantheothers。Shefoundherselflookingoutforhiminthewindingsofthemoonlitroad，andwhen，atlast，shereachedtheturningtowardsthelittlewoodandchapel，hersmallfeetunconsciouslylingereduntilshefeltherselfblushingunderherfleecy\"cloud。”Shelookeddownthelane。Fromthepointwhereshewasstandingthelightsofthechapelshouldhavebeenplainlyvisible；butnowallwasdark。Itwasnearlyteno\'clock，andhemusthavegonehomebyanotherroad。
Thenaspiritofadventureseizedher。Shehadthekeyofthechapelinherpocket。SherememberedshehadleftasmallblackSpanishfan——aformergiftofMr。Braggslyingontheharmonium。
Shewouldgoandbringitaway，andsatisfyherselfthatBrotherSeabrightwasnottherestill。Itwasbutastep，andintheclearmoonlight。
Thelanewoundbeforeherlikeasilverstream，exceptwhereitwasinterruptedandbridgedoverbyjaggedblackshadows。Thechapelitselfwasblack，theclusteringtreesarounditwereblackalso；
theporchseemedtocoveraninkywellofshadow；thewindowswereraylessanddead，andinthechancelonestillleftopenshowedayawningvaultofobscuritywithin。Nevertheless，sheopenedthedoorsoftly，glidedintothedarkdepths，andmadeherwaytotheharmonium。Butherethesoundoffootstepswithoutstartledher；
sheglancedhurriedlythroughtheopenwindow，andsawthefigureofElishaBraggssuddenlyrevealedinthemoonlightashecrossedthepathbehindthechapel。Hewascloselyfollowedbytwopeons，whomsherecognizedashisservantsattheMission，andtheyeachcarriedapickaxe。Fromtheirmanneritwasevidentthattheyhadnosuspicionofherpresenceinthechapel。Buttheyhadstoppedandwerelistening。Herheartbeatquickly；withasuddeninstinctsheranandboltedthedoor。Butitwasevidentlyanotherintrudertheywerewatching，forshepresentlysawBrotherSeabrightquietlycrossthelaneandapproachthechapel。Thethreemenhaddisappeared；buttherewasasuddenshout，thesoundofscuffling，thedeepvoiceofBrotherSeabrightsaying，\"Back，there，willyou!
Handsoff!\"andapause。Shecouldseenothing；shelistenedineverypulse。ThenthevoiceofBrotherSeabrightaroseagainquiteclearly，slowly，andasdeliberatelyasifithadrisenfromtheplatforminthechapel。
\"LishBarker!Ithoughtasmuch!LishBarker，firstmateoftheTamalpais，whowassaidtohavegonedownwithaboat\'screwandtheship\'streasureaftershestruck。ITHOUGHTIknewthatfacetoday。”
\"Yes，\"saidthevoiceofhimwhomshehadknownasElishaBraggs，——
\"yes，andIknewYOURface，JimSeabright，ex-whaler，slaver，pirate，andbo\'s\'noftheHighflyer，maroonedintheSouthPacific，whereyoufoundtheLord——ha!ha!——andbecamethepsalm-singing，convertedAmericansailorpreacher!\"
\"Iamnotashamedbeforemenofmypast，whicheveryoneknows，\"
returnedSeabrightslowly。\"ButwhatofYOURS，ElishaBarker——
YOURSthathasmadeyoushamdeathitselftohideitfromthem？
WhatofYOURS——spentintheslothofyourill-gottengains!Turn，sinner，turn!Turn，ElishaBraggs，whilethereisyettime!\"
\"Belaythere，BrotherSeabright；we\'renotINSIDEyourgospel-shopjustnow!Keepyourpalaverforthosethatneedit。Letmepass，beforeIhavetoteachyouthatyouhaven\'ttodealwithagangofhystericaloldwomento-night。”
\"Butnotuntilyouknowthatoneofthosewomen，——VashtiWhite，——
byGod\'sgraceconvertedofhersins，hasconfessedhersecretandyours，ElishaBarker!Yes!Shehastoldmehowhersister\'shusband——thefatheroftheyounggirlyouaretryingtolureaway——
helpedyouoffthatnightwithyourbooty，tookhismiserablerewardandlivedanddiedinexilewiththerestofyourwretchedcrew，——afraidtoreturntohishomeandcountry——whilstyou——
shamelessandimpenitent——livedinslothfuleaseattheMission!\"
\"Liar!Letmepass!\"
\"NotuntilIknowyourpurposehereto-night。”
\"Thentaketheconsequences!Here，Pedro!Ramon!Seizehim。Tiehimheadandheelstogether，andtosshiminthebush!\"
Thesoundofscufflingrecommenced。Thestruggleseemedfierceandlong，withnobreathwastedinuselessoutcry。Thentherewasabrightflash，amuffledreport，andthestingingandfireofgunpowderatthewindow。
Transfixedwithfear，Cissycastadespairingglancearoundher。
Ah，thebell-rope!Inanotherinstantshehadgraspeditfranticallyinherhands。
Allthefear，indignation，horror，sympathy，andwildappealforhelpthathadarisenhelplesslyinherthroatandyetremainedunuttered，nowseemedtothrillthroughherfingersandthetightenedrope，andbrokeintofranticvoiceintheclangingmetalaboveher。Thewholechapel，thewholewoodland，theclear，moonlitskyabovewasfilledwithitsalarmingaccents。Itshrieked，implored，protested，summoned，andthreatened，inoneceaselessoutcry，seemingtorolloverandover——as，indeed，itdid——inleapsandboundsthatshookthebelfry。Neverbefore，evenintheblowsofthestrikingsurges，hadthebelloftheTamalpaisclamoredlikethat!Oncesheheardabovetheturmoiltheshakingofthedooragainsttheboltthatstillheldfirmly；onceshethoughtsheheardSeabright\'svoicecallingtoher；onceshethoughtshesmelledthestrongsmokeofburninggrass。Butshekepton，untilthewindowwassuddenlydarkenedbyafigure，andBrotherSeabright，leapingin，caughtherinhisarmsasshewasreelingfainting，butstillclingingtotherope。Buthisstrongpresenceandsomepowerfulmagnetisminhistouchrestoredher。
\"Youhaveheardall!\"hesaid。
\"Yes。”
\"Thenforyouraunt\'ssake，foryourdeadfather\'ssake，FORGET
all!Thatwretchedmanhasfledwithhiswoundedhirelings——lethissingowithhim。Butthevillageisalarmed——thebrethrenmaybehereanymoment!NeitherquestionnordenywhatIshalltellthem。Fearnothing。GodwillforgivethesilencethatleavesthevengeancetoHishandsalone!\"Voicesandfootstepswereheardapproachingthechapel。BrotherSeabrightsignificantlypressedherhandandstrodetowardsthedoor。DeaconShadwellwasfirsttoenter。
\"Youhere——BrotherSeabright!Whathashappened？\"
\"Godbepraised!\"saidBrotherSeabrightcheerfully，\"nothingofconsequence!Thedangerisover!Yet，butforthecourageandpresenceofmindofSisterApplebyaseriousevilmighthavebeendone。”Hepaused，andwithanothervoiceturnedhalf-
interrogativelytowardsher。\"Somechildren，orapassingtramp，hadcarelesslythrownmatchesintheunderbrush，andtheywereignitedbesidethechapel。SisterAppleby，chancingtoreturnherefor\"——
\"Formyfan，\"saidCissywithatimidtruthfulnessofaccent。
\"Foundherselfunabletocopewithit，anditoccurredtohertogivethealarmyouheard。Ihappenedtobepassingandwasfirsttorespond。Happilytheflameshadmadebutlittleheadway，andwerequicklybeatendown。Itisallovernow。Butletushopethatthespeedyclearingoutoftheunderbrushandtheopeningofthewoodsaroundthechapelwillpreventanyrecurrenceofthealarmofto-night。”……
ThatthelessonthusreiteratedbyBrotherSeabrightwaseffective，thefollowingextract，fromthecolumnsofthe\"WhalePointGazette，\"maynotonlybeofferedasevidence，butmayevengivethecautiousreaderfurtherlightontheepisodeitself:——
STRANGEDISCOVERYATWESTWOODLANDS——THETAMALPAISMYSTERYAGAIN。
TheimprovementsintheclearingaroundtheSidonChapelatWestWoodlands，undertakenbytheRev。JamesSeabright，havedisclosedanotherlinkinthemysterywhichsurroundedthelossoftheTamalpaissomeyearsagoatWhaleMouthPoint。ItwillberememberedthattheboatcontainingAdams&Co。\'streasure，theTamalpais\'firstofficer，andacrewoffourmenwaslostontherocksshortlyafterleavingtheill-fatedvessel。Noneofthebodieswereeverrecovered，andthetreasureitselfcompletelybaffledthesearchofdiversandsalvers。AlidlessboxbearingthemarkofAdams&Co。，ofthekindinwhichtheirtreasurewasusuallyshipped，wasyesterdayfoundinthewoodsbehindthechapel，halfburiedinbrush，bark，andwindfalls。Therewerenootherindications，exceptthetracesofacamp-fireatsomeremoteperiod，probablylongbeforethebuildingofthechapel。Buthowandwhentheboxwastransportedtotheupland，andbywhoseagency，stillremainsamatterofconjecture。OurreporterwhovisitedtheRev。Mr。Seabright，whohaslatelyacceptedtheregularministryofthechapel，wasofferedeveryfacilityforinformation，butitwasevidentthattheearlysettlerswhowerecognizantofthefact——iftherewereany——areeitherdeadorhaveleftthevicinity。
THEHOME-COMINGOFJIMWILKES。
I。
Formanyminutestherehadbeennosoundbutthemonotonousdrummingoftherainontheroofofthecoach，theswishingofwheelsthroughthegravellymud，andthemomentaryclatterofhoofsuponsomerockyoutcropintheroad。Conversationhadceased；thelight-heartedyoungeditorinthefrontseat，morethansuspectedofdangerouslevity，hadrelapsedintosilencesincetheheavymaninthemiddleseathadtakentoregardingtheceilingwithostentatiousresignation，andthethinfemalebesidehimhadavertedherrespectablebonnet。Anoccasionallurchofthecoachbroughtdownafringeofraindropsfromitseavesthatfilmedthewindowsandshutoutthesoddenprospectalreadydarkeningintonight。TherehadbeenamomentaryreliefintheirhurrieddashthroughSummitSprings，andthespectacleofcertainnewlyarrivedCountyDelegatescrowdingtheverandaofitsonehotel；butthatwasnowthreemilesbehind。Theyoungeditor\'ssoleresourcewastooccasionallystealaglanceatthefaceoftheonepassengerwhoseemedtobeinsympathywithhim，butwhowastoofarawayforeasyconversation。Itwasthehalf-amused，half-perplexedfaceofayoungmanwhohadbeenforsometimeregardinghimfromaremotecornerofthecoachwithanoddminglingofadmiringyetcogitatinginterest，which，however，hadneverextendedtoanyfurtherencouragementthanafaintsadsmile。Eventhisatlastfadedoutinthegrowingdarkness；thepowerfulcoachlampsoneithersidethatflashedonthewaysideobjectsgavenolighttotheinterior。
Everybodywasslowlyfallingasleep。Suddenlyeverybodywokeuptofindthatthecoachwasapparentlystandingstill!Whenithadstoppednooneknew!Theyoungeditorloweredhiswindow。Thecoachlamponthatsidewasmissing，butnothingwastobeseen。
Inthedistancethereappearedtobeafaintsplashing。
\"Well，\"calledoutanimpatientvoicefromtheboxabove；\"whatdoyoumakeit？\"ItwastheauthoritativeaccentsofYubaBill，thedriver，andeverybodylistenedeagerlyforthereply。
Itcamefaintlyfromthedistanceandthesplashing。\"Almostfourfeethere，anddeepeningasyougo。”
\"Deadwater？\"
\"No——backwaterfromtheFork。”
Therewasageneralmovementtowardsthedoorsandwindows。Thesplashingcamenearer。Thenalightflashedonthetrees，thewindows，and——twofeetofyellowwaterpeacefullyflowingbeneaththem!Thethinfemalegaveaslightscream。
\"There\'snodanger，\"saidtheExpressman，nowwadingtowardsthemwiththecoachlampinhishand。\"Butwe\'llhavetopullroundoutofitandgobacktotheSprings。There\'snogettingpastthisbreakto-night。”
\"Whydidn\'tyouletusknowthisbefore，\"saidtheheavymanindignantlyfromthewindow。
\"Jim，\"saidthedriverwiththatslowdeliberationwhichinstantlyenforcedcompleteattention。
\"Yes，Bill。”
\"Haveyougotasparecopyofthatreg\'larbulletinthattheStageKempanyissooseverytenminutestoeachpassengertotell\'emwhereweare，howfaritistothenextplace，andwotsthestateo\'theweathergin\'rally？\"
\"No!\"saidtheExpressmangrimly，asheclimbedtothebox，\"there\'snotoneleft。Why？\"
\"CostheEmperorofChiny\'sinsidewantin\'one!Hoop!Keepyourseatsdownthere!G\'lang!\"thewhipcracked，therewasadesperatesplashing，abackwardandforwardjoltingofthecoach，theglisteningwetflanksandtossingheadsoftheleadersseenforamomentoppositethewindows，asickeningswirlofthewholebodyofthevehicleasifpartingfromitsaxles，alongstraightdraggingpull，and——presentlythewelcomesoundofhoofsoncemorebeatingthefirmerground。
\"Hi!Holdup——driver!\"
Itwastheeditor\'squietfriendwhowasleaningfromthewindow。
\"Isn\'tWilkes\'sranchjustoffhere？\"
\"Yes，halfamilealongtheridge，Ireckon，\"returnedthedrivershortly。
\"Well，ifyou\'renotgoingonto-night，I\'dgetoffandstopthere。”
\"Ireckonyourhead\'slevel，stranger，\"saidBillapprovingly；\"forthey\'reaboutchockfullattheSprings\'House。”
Todescend，thepassengerwasobligedtopassoutbythemiddleseatandbeforetheyoungeditor。Ashedidsohecastashylookonhimand，leaningover，saidhesitatingly，inalowervoice:\"I
don\'tthinkyouwillbeabletogetinattheSpringsHotel。If——
if——youcaretocomewithmeto——to——theranch，Icantakecareofyou。”
Theyoungeditor——amanofaction——pausedforaninstantonly。
Thenseizinghisbag，hesaidpromptly:\"Thankyou，\"andfollowedhisnewly-foundfriendtotheground。Thewhipcracked，thecoachrolledaway。
\"YouknowWilkes？\"hesaid。
\"Ye-ee-s。He\'smyfather。”
\"Ah，\"saidtheeditorcheerfully，\"thenyou\'regoinghome？\"
\"Yes。”
Itwasquitelightintheopen，andthestranger，afteramoment\'ssurveyoftheprospect，——asurveythat，however，seemedtobecharacterizedbyhisprevioushesitation，——said:\"Thisway，\"
crossedtheroad，andbegantofollowaquiteplainbutlongdisusedwagontrackalongtheslope。Hismannerwasstillsoembarrassedthattheyoungeditor，aftergaylyrepeatinghisthanksforhiscompanion\'sthoughtfulcourtesy，followedhiminsilence。
Attheendoftenminutestheyhadreachedsomecultivatedfieldsandorchards；thestrangerbrightened，althoughstillwithapreoccupiedair，quickenedhispace，andthensuddenlystopped。
Whentheeditorreachedhissidehewasgazingwithapparentlystillgreaterperplexityuponthelevel，halfobliterated，andblackenedfoundationsofwhathadbeenalargefarmhouse。
\"Why，it\'sbeenburntdown!\"hesaidthoughtfully。
Theeditorstaredathim!Burntdownitcertainlyhadbeen，butbynomeansrecently。Grasseswerealreadyspringingupfromthecharredbeamsinthecellar，vinesweretrailingoverthefallenchimneys，excavations，alreadyold，hadbeenmadeamongtheruins。
\"Whenwereyouherelast？\"theeditoraskedabruptly。
\"Fiveyearsago，\"saidthestrangerabstractedly。
\"Fiveyears!——andyouknewnothingofTHIS？\"
\"No。IwasinTahiti，Australia，Japan，andChinaallthetime。”
\"Andyouneverheardfromhome？\"
\"No。YouseeIquo\'ledwiththeoldman，andranaway。”
\"Andyoudidn\'twritetotellthemyouwerecoming？\"
\"No。”Hehesitated，andthenadded:\"Neverthoughto\'comingtillIsawYOU。”
\"Me!\"
\"Yes；youand——thehighwater。”
\"Doyoumeantosay，\"saidtheyoungeditorsharply，\"thatyoubroughtME——anutterstrangertoyou——outofthatcoachtoclaimthehospitalityofafatheryouhadquarreledwith——hadn\'tseenforfiveyearsanddidn\'tknowifhewouldreceiveyou？\"
\"Yes，——youseethat\'sjustWHYIdidit。Yousee，Ireckonedmychanceswouldbebettertoseehimalongwithacheerful，chipperfellowlikeyou。Ididn\'t，ofcourse，kalkilateonthis，\"headded，pointingdejectedlytotheruins。
Theeditorgasped；thenasuddenconceptionoftheunrivaledabsurdityofthesituationflasheduponhim，——ofhispassivelyfollowingtheamiableidiotathissideinordertocontemplate，bythefallingrainandlonelynight，aheapofsoddenruins，whilethecoachwasspeedingtoSummitSpringsandshelter，and，aboveall，thereasonWHYhewasinvited，——until，puttingdownhisbag，heleaneduponhisstick，andlaugheduntilthetearscametohiseyes。
Atwhichhiscompanionvisiblybrightened。\"Itoldyouso，\"hesaidcheerfully；\"Iknewyou\'dbeabletotakeit——andtheoldman——
inTHATWAY，andthatwouldhavefetchedhimround。”
\"ForHeaven\'ssake!don\'ttalkanymore，\"saidtheeditor，wipinghiseyes，\"buttrytorememberifyoueverhadanyneighborsaboutherewherewecanstaytonight。Wecan\'twalktoSummitSprings，andwecan\'tcampoutontheseruins。”
\"Theredidn\'tusetobeanybodynearerthantheSprings。”
\"Butthatwasfiveyearsago，yousay，\"saidtheeditorimpatiently；\"andalthoughyourfatherprobablymovedawayafterthehouseburneddown，thecountry\'sbeenthicklysettledsincethen。Thatfieldhasbeenlatelyplanted。Theremustbeanotherhousebeyond。Let\'sfollowthetrailalittlefarther。”
Theytrampedalonginsilence，thistimetheeditorleading。
Presentlyhestopped。\"There\'sahouse——inthere——amongthetrees，\"hesaid，pointing。\"Whoseisit？\"
Thestrangershookhisheaddubiously。Althoughapparentlyunaffectedbyanysentimentalconsiderationofhisfather\'smisfortune，thespectacleoftheblackenedruinsofthehomesteadhadevidentlyshakenhispreconceivedplans。\"Itwasn\'tthereinMYtime，\"hesaidmusingly。
\"ButitISthereinOURtime，\"respondedtheeditorbriskly，\"andI
proposetogothere。Fromwhatyouhavetoldmeofyourfather——
evenifhishousewerestillstanding——ourchancesofgettingsupperandabedfromhimwouldbedoubtful!Isuppose，\"hecontinuedastheymovedontogether，\"youlefthiminanger——fiveyearsago？\"
\"Ye-es。”
\"Didhesayanythingasyouleft？\"
\"Idon\'trememberanythingparticularthatheSAID。”
\"Well，whatdidheDO？\"
\"Shotatmefromthewindow!\"
\"Ah!\"saidtheyoungeditorsoftly。Neverthelesstheywalkedonforsometimeinsilence。Graduallyawhitepicketfencecameintoviewatrightangleswiththetrail，andamanappearedwalkingleisurelyalongwhatseemedtobetheregularlytraveledroad，besideit。Theeditor，whohadtakenmattersinhisownhands，withoutspeakingtohiscompanion，ranquicklyforwardandaccostedthestranger，brieflystatingthathehadleftthestage-coachwithacompanion，becauseitwasstoppedbyhighwater，andasked，withoutenteringintofurtherdetails，tobedirectedtosomeplacewheretheycouldpassthenight。Themanquiteasbrieflydirectedhimtothehouseamongthetrees，whichhesaidwashisown，andthenleisurelypursuedhiswayalongtheroad。Theyoungeditorranbacktohiscompanion，whohadhaltedinthedrippingshadowofasycamore，andrecountedhisgoodfortune。
\"Ididn\'t，\"headded，\"sayanythingaboutyourfather。Youcanmakeinquiriesyourselflater。”
\"Ireckontherewon\'tbemuchneedofthat，\"returnedhiscompanion。\"Youdidn\'ttakemuchnoteo\'thatman，didyou？\"
\"Notmuch，\"saidtheeditor。
\"Well，THAT\'SMYFATHER，andIreckonthatnewhousemustbehis。”
II。
Theyoungeditorwasalittlestartled。Themanhehadjustquittedcertainlywasnotdangerouslooking，andyet，rememberingwhathissonhadsaid，thereWEREhomicidalpossibilities。\"Lookhere，\"hesaidquickly，\"he\'snotthereNOW。Whydon\'tyouseizetheopportunitytoslipintothehouse，makepeacewithyourmotherandsisters，andgetthemtointercedewithyourfatherwhenhereturns？\"
\"Tharain\'tanymother；shediedaforeIleft。MysisterAlmiry\'salittlegirl——thoughthat\'sfouryearsagoandmebbeeshe\'sgrowed。Mybrothersandmedidn\'tpulltogethermuch。ButIwasthinkin\'thatmebbeeYOUmightgointharformefirst，andseehowthelandlays；thensortertell\'em\'boutmeinyourtakin\'，chipper，easyway；make\'emlaugh，andwhenyou\'vesquared\'em——
I\'llbehangin\'roundoutside——youkincallMEin。Don\'tyousee？\"
TheyoungeditorDIDsee。Ridiculousastheproposalwouldhaveseemedtohimanhourago，itnowappearedpractical，andevencommendeditselftohistaste。Hisnamewaswellknowninthecountyandhismediationmightbeeffective。Perhapshisvanitywasslightlyflatteredbyhiscompanion\'sfaithinhim；perhapshewasnotfreefromacertainhumancuriositytoknowtherest；
perhapshewasmoreinterestedthanhecaredtoconfessinthehelplesshome-seekerbesidehim。
\"Butyoumusttellmesomethingmoreofyourself，andyourfortuneandprospects。They\'llbesuretoaskquestions。”
\"Mebbeetheywon\'t。ButyoucansayI\'vedonewell——mademypileoverinAustralia，andain\'tcomin\'onTHEM。Remember——sayI
\'ain\'tcomin\'onthem\'!\"
Theeditornodded，andthen，asiffearfuloflettinghispresentimpulsecool，ranofftowardsthehouse。
Itwaslargeandrespectablelooking，andauguredwellforthepresentfortunesoftheWilkes\'s。Theeditorhaddeterminedtoattackthecitadelonitsweaker，feminineside，andwhenthefrontdoorwasopenedtohisknock，askedtoseeMissAlmiraWilkes。TheIrishservantshowedhimintoacomfortablelookingsitting-room，andinanothermomentwithaquickrustleofskirtsinthepassageaveryprettygirlimpulsivelyentered。Fromthefirstflashofherkeenblueeyestheeditor——afairstudentofthesex——conceivedtheideathatshehadexpectedsomebodyelse；fromthesecondthatshewasanarrantflirt，anddidnotintendtobedisappointed。
Thismuchwasinhisfavor。
Spurredbyherprovokingeyesandthenovelsituation，hestatedhisbusinesswithanairylightnessandhumorthatseemedtojustifyhislatecompanion\'sestimateofhispowers。Buteveninhiscynicalattitudehewasunpreparedforthegirl\'sreceptionofhisnews。Hehadexpectedsomeindignationorevenharshnesstowardsthismanwhomhewasbeginningtoconsiderasakindofdetrimentaloutcastorprodigal，buthewasastoundedatthecompleteandutterindifference——thefrankandheartlessunconcern——
withwhichsheheardofhisreturn。Whenshehadfollowedthenarratorratherthanhisstorytotheend，shelanguidlycalledherbrothersfromtheadjoiningroom。\"Thisgentleman，Mr。Grey，ofthe\'Argus，\'hascomeacrossJim——andJimiscalculatingtocomehereandseefather。”
ThetwobrothersstaredatGrey，slightlyshruggedtheirshoulderswiththesameutterabsenceoffraternalsympathyorconcernwhichthegirlhadshown，andsaidnothing。
\"Onemoment，\"saidGreyalittlewarmly；\"Ihavenodesiretopenetratefamilysecrets，butwouldyoumindtellingmeifthereisanygravereasonwhyheshouldnotcome。Wasthereanyscandalousconduct，unpardonableoffense——letusevensay——anycriminalactonhispartwhichmakeshisreturntothisroofimpossible？\"
Thethreelookedateachotherwithadullsurprisethatendedinavacantwonderingsmile。\"No，no，\"theysaidinonevoice。\"No，only\"——
\"Onlywhat？\"askedGreyimpatiently。
\"Dadjusthateshim!\"
\"Likepizon，\"smiledAlmira。
Theyoungeditorrosewithaslightincreaseofcolor。\"Lookhere，\"saidthegirl，whosedimpleshaddeepenedasshekeenlysurveyedhim，asifdetectingsomeamorousartificeunderhisshowofinterestforherbrother。\"Dad\'sgonedowntothesheepfoldandwon\'tbebackforanhour。Yo\'mightbring——YO\'FRIEND——in。”
\"Heain\'twantin\'anything？Ain\'tdeadbroke？nornothin\'，eh？\"
suggestedoneofthebrothersdubiously。
GreyhastenedtoassurethemofJim\'sabsolutesolvency，andevenenlargedconsiderablyonhisAustralianfortune。Theylookedrelievedbutnotinterested。
\"Goandfetchhim，\"saidthewitch，archlyhoveringnearGreywithdancingeyes；\"andmindYO\'comeback，too!\"
Greyhesitatedamomentandthenpassedoutinthedarkporch。A
drippingfigureemergedfromthetreesopposite。ItwasJim。
\"Yoursisterandbrotherswillseeyou，\"saidGreyhastily，toavoidembarrassingdetails。\"HEwon\'tbehereforanhour。ButI\'dadviseyoutomakethemostofyourtime，andgetthegood-willofyoursister。”Hewouldhavedrawnbacktolettheprodigalpassinalone，butthemanappealinglyseizedhisarm，andGreywasobligedtore-enterwithhim。Henoticed，however，thathebreathedhard。
Theyturnedslightlytowardstheirrelative，butdidnotoffertoshakehandswithhim，nordidhewiththem。Hesatdownsidewaysonanunofferedchair。\"Theoldhousegotburnt!\"hesaid，wipinghislips，andthendryinghiswethairwithhishandkerchief。
Astheremarkwasaddressedtonooneinparticularitwassomesecondsbeforetheelderbrotherreplied:\"Yes。”
\"Almira\'sgrowed。”
Againnoonefeltcalledupontoanswer，andAlmiraglancedarchlyattheyoungeditorasifhemighthaveadded:\"andimproved。”
\"You\'vedonewell？\"returnedoneofthebrotherstentatively。
\"Yes，I\'mallright，\"saidJim。
Therewasanotherspeechlessinterval。EventheconversationalGreyfeltundersomeunhallowedspellofsilencethathecouldnotbreak。
\"Iseetheoldwellisthereyet，\"saidJim，wipinghislipsagain。
\"Wheredadwasoncegoin\'tochuckyoudownforgivin\'himbacktalk，\"saidtheyoungerbrothercasually。
ToMr。Grey\'sreliefandyetastonishment，Jimburstintoaloudlaughandrubbedhislegs。\"That\'sso——howoldtimesDOcomeback!\"
\"And，\"saidthebright-eyedAlmira，there\'sthatoldbutternut-treethatyoushinneduponedaywhenwesetthehoundsonyou。
Goodness!howyouscooted!\"
AgainJimlaughedloudlyandnodded。\"Yes，thesameoldbutternut。
HowyouDOremember，Almira？\"Thisadmiringly。
Anddon\'tyourememberDeliaShort？\"continuedAlmira，pleasedattheadmiration，andperhapsalittleexaltedatthesingularattentionwhichtheyoungeditorwasgivingtothosecheerfulreminiscences。\"She，youknow，youwasreg\'larlysickafter，sothatwealwaysallowedshekinderturnedyo\'brainaforeyouwentaway!Well!allthewhileyouwerecourtin\'heritappearsshewassecretlymarriedtoJo——yo\'friend——JoStacy。Lord!therewasatalkaboutthat!andaboutyo\'allalongthinkin\'yo\'hadchances!
Yo\'friendhere，\"withanarchglanceatGrey，\"who\'sallusputtin\'
folksinthenewspapers，ortergetaholdonthat!\"
Jimagainlaughedlouderthantheothers，andrubbedhislips。
Grey，however，offeredonlythetributeofapeculiarsmileandwalkedtothewindow。\"Yousayyourfatherwillreturninanhour？\"hesaid，turningtotheelderbrother。
\"Yes，unlesshekeptontoWatson\'s。”
\"Where？\"saidJimsuddenly。
ItstruckGreythathisvoicehadchanged——orratherthathewasnowspeakingforthefirsttimeinhisnaturaltone。
\"Watson\'s，justoverthebridge，\"explainedhisbrother。\"Ifhewenttherehewon\'tbebacktillten。”
JimpickeduphisIndiarubbercapeandhat，said，\"IreckonI\'lljusttakeaturnoutsideuntilhegetsback，\"andwalkedtowardsthedoor。Noneofhisrelativesmovednorseemedtoofferanyopposition。Greyfollowedhimquickly。\"I\'llgowithyou，\"hesaid。
\"No，\"returnedJimwithsingularearnestness。\"Youstayhereandkeep\'emupcheerfullikethis。They\'redoingallthisforYOU，youknow；Almiry\'sjustthischipperonlyonyouraccount。”
Seeingtheyoungmanwasinflexible，Greyreturnedgrimlytotheroom，butnotuntilhehadnoticed，withsomesurprise，thatJim，immediatelyonleavingthehouse，dartedoffataquickrunthroughtherainanddarkness。Preoccupiedwiththis，andperhapsstillinfluencedbythetoneofthepreviousconversation，hedidnotrespondreadilytothefairAlmira\'sconversationaladvances，andwasspeedilylefttoaseatbythefirealone。Attheendoftenminutesheregrettedhehadevercome；whenhalfanhourhadpassedhewonderedifhehadnotbettertrytoreachtheSummitalone。
WiththelapseofanhourhebegantofeeluneasyatJim\'sprolongedabsenceinspiteofthecoldindifferenceofthehousehold。Suddenlyheheardstampingintheporch，amutteredexclamation，andthevoicesofthetwobrothersinthehall。
\"Why，dad!what\'sup？Yo\'lookhalfdrowned!\"
Thedooropeneduponthesodden，steamingfigureoftheoldmanwhomhehadmetontheroad，followedbythetwosons。Buthewasevidentlymoreoccupiedandpossessedbysomementalpassionthanbyhisphysicaldiscomfort。Yetstronganddominantoverboth，hethrewoffhiswetcoatandwaistcoatasheentered，andmarcheddirectlytothefire。Utterlyignoringthepresenceofastranger，hesuddenlyturnedandfacedhisfamily。
\"Halfdrowned。Yes!andImighthavebeenhulldrownedforthatmatter。ThebackwateroftheForkisalloverWatson\'s，andthebridgeisgone。Istumbledontothisendofitinthedark，andwentoff，headfirst，intotwentyfeetofwater!Triedtofightmywayout，butthecurrentwasaginme。I\'dbindowntwice，andwasgoingdownforthethirdtime，whensomebodygrabbedmebythescruffo\'myneckandunderthearm——so!——andswammetothebank!
WhenIscrambledupIsez:\'Ican\'tseeyourface，\'sezI，\'Idon\'tknowwhoyouare，\'sezI，\'butIreckonyou\'reawhitemanandcleargrit，\'sezI，\'andthere\'smyhandonit!\'Andhegrabsitandsez，\'We\'requits，\'andscootedouto\'mysight。And，\"
continuedtheoldmanstaringattheirfacesandraisinghisvoicealmosttoascream，\"whodoyouthinkitwas？Why，THATSNEAKIN\'
HOUNDOFABROTHEROFYOURS——JIM!Jim!thescallawagthatIbootedoutertheranchfiveyearsago，crawlin\'，writhin\'backagainafteralltheseyearstoinsulthisoldfather\'sgrayhairs!Andsomeofyou——byGod——oncethoughtthatIwashardonhim!\"……
Thesunwasshiningbrightlythenextmorningastheyoungeditorhaltedtheupcoachinthenowdriedhollow。Ashewasclamberingtoaseatbesidethedriver，hiselbowwasjoggedatthewindow。
LookingdownhesawthefaceofJim。
\"Wehadagaytalklastnight，rememberingoldtimes，didn\'twe？\"
saidtheprodigalcheerfully。
\"Yes，but——whereareyougoingnow？\"
\"BacktoAustralia，Ireckon!Butitwasmightygoodtodropinontheoldhomesteadoncemore!\"
\"Rather，\"saidtheeditor，clingingtothewindowandlingeringinmid-airtothemanifestimpatienceofYubaBill；\"butIsay——lookhere!——wereyouQUITEsatisfied？\"
Jim\'shandtightenedaroundtheyoungeditor\'sasheansweredcheerfully，\"Yes。”Buthisfacewasturnedawayfromthewindow。